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United States Patent |
5,133,692
|
Koop
|
July 28, 1992
|
Light restricting housing for a ventilation system
Abstract
A light restricting housing for a ventilating system including a
flow-through frame member having a plurality of spaced parallel blade
members disposed there, the blade members being contoured to obscure
direct passage of light therethrough and including displacement means on
the planar surfaces thereof to hold the blade members in spaced relation
to each other.
Inventors:
|
Koop; Edward N. (Olathe, KS)
|
Assignee:
|
Emerson Electric Co. (St. Louis, MO)
|
Appl. No.:
|
669599 |
Filed:
|
March 14, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: |
454/282; 454/905 |
Intern'l Class: |
F24F 013/18 |
Field of Search: |
98/121.1,DIG. 9
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3285156 | Nov., 1966 | Bohanon | 98/121.
|
3628442 | Dec., 1971 | Hijhuis | 98/121.
|
3771430 | Nov., 1973 | Lane | 98/121.
|
3968738 | Jul., 1976 | Matzke | 98/121.
|
Primary Examiner: Joyce; Harold
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Polster, Lieder, Woodruff & Lucchesi
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A light restricting housing for a ventilating air system comprising:
a flow-through frame member including an upstream ventilating air inlet and
a downstream ventilating air outlet;
a plurality of longitudinally extending blade members disposed in said
flow-through frame member to extend thereacross in spaced parallel
relation between said upstream ventilating air inlet and said downstream
ventilating air outlet, said blade members each having a cross-section
contoured to obscure direct passage of light therethrough between said
upstream ventilating air inlet and said downstream ventilating air outlet;
means to retain said blade members in disposed position within said
flow-through frame member; and, displacement means integral with the
planar faces of said blade members to freely abut against planar faces of
adjacent blade members to hold said blade members in spaced relation to
each other.
2. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said blade members having an S-shaped sinusoidal like curved
cross-section.
3. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said blade members being vertically disposed in said flow-through frame
member.
4. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said flow-through frame member including an opening extending intermediate
said upstream air inlet and said downstream air outlet in the lower
portion thereof for drainage of contaminant flows.
5. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said retaining means for said blade members comprising spaced pairs of
upstream and downstream rail members fastened to extend along opposed
sides of said frame member to restrain movement of opposed longitudinal
extremities of said blade members.
6. The light restricting housing for a ventilating airstream of claim 1,
said flow-through frame member being of rectangular shape to include four
wooden panel side members, the lower panel being comprised of two spaced
longitudinally extending strips to provide a gap opening therebetween for
drainage of contaminant flows.
7. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said blade members being of plastic material of preselected thickness to
provide self-supporting stiffness with sufficient flexibility to allow
spreading for cleaning purposes.
8. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said displacement means integral with said blade members including a
plurality of selectively spaced relatively staggered dimples on the planar
surfaces of each blade member so spaced that immediately adjacent
longitudinally extending parallel blade members can be positioned in
relatively inverted parallel relation to each other with the dimples of
one blade member being offset from the dimples of an adjacent blade
member.
9. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said contoured blade members each having a peripheral surrounding edge
determined by a common plane to enhance the structural stability and
stiffness thereof.
10. The light restricting housing for a ventilating air stream of claim 1,
said displacement means being integrally formed portions on said blade
members.
11. A light restricting housing for a ventilating air system comprising:
a flow-through vertically extending frame member of rectangular shape
formed from four wooden side panel members joined at the corners by right
angle braces to define an upstream ventilating air inlet and a downstream
ventilating air outlet with the lower panel member including two spaced
longitudinally extending strips to provide a gap opening therebetween for
drainage of contaminant flows therethrough and with the upper and lower
panels having spaced pairs of horizontally extending upstream and
downstream rail members fastened thereto to loosely receive and restrain
opposed longitudinal extremities of vertically extending spaced parallel
blade members therein;
a plurality of longitudinally extending, parallel blade members vertically
disposed in said flow-through frame member with their longitudinal
extremities loosely disposed for expansion purposes between said pairs of
horizontally extending upstream and downstream rail members of said
rectangular frame, said blade members having an S-shaped sinusoidal-like
curved cross-section substantially throughout to allow stream-line flow
and to obscure direct passage of light therethrough between said upstream
ventilating air inlet and said downstream ventilating air outlet, said
blade members being of preselected thickness to provide self supporting
stiffness with sufficient flexibility to allow spreading for cleaning
purposes each blade including a plurality of spaced pairs of staggered
integrally formed dimples extending from the surface thereof with the
dimples so spaced that immediately adjacent blade members can be
positioned in relatively inverted parallel longitudinally extending
relation to each other with the dimples of one blade member being offset
from the dimples of an adjacent blade member, each blade member further
having a continuous peripheral surrounding edge determined by a common
plane to enhance the structural stability and stiffness thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to light restricting structure and more
particularly to an improved light restricting housing for a ventilation
system which can be used in conjunction with those activities requiring
both ventilation and accompanying light restriction, such as in
auditoriums, photographic equipment and dark rooms and particularly, as in
livestock housings, including housings for poultry where air ventilated
and artificially lighted environments have been found to be most
desirable.
It is generally known in those situations where it has been found desirable
to provide ventilation and concomitant direct light reduction or
obscurence to use spaced blade members with surfaces geometrically
configured to prevent passage of direct light therethrough. Such past
blade member assemblies have included air stream flow-through housings
provided with rods and spacers or tabs and slots to position the blade
members in appropriately spaced position. It is recognized by the present
invention that such past assemblies have been comparatively complex to
manufacture and assemble, requiring several parts that necessarily must be
fixtured and assembled in proper alignment with the resulting assemblies
presenting problems in operation, fixturing, wear and maintenance.
The present invention, recognizing these past problems provides an improved
and light restricting housing for a ventilation system which is
straightforward and economical in manufacture and assembly without time
consuming fixturing. The structure of the present invention is efficient
in operation and maintenance, allowing for ready drainage and cleaning and
at the same time utilizing a minimum of parts in efficiently accomplishing
both ventilation and light control in a unique arrangement for
manufacturing, assembling and spacing blade members for utilization in a
novel ventilating and light control system.
Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one
skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More particularly the present invention provides a light restricting
housing for a ventilating air system comprising: a flow-through frame
member including an upstream ventilating air inlet and a downstream
ventilating air outlet; a plurality of longitudinally extending blade
members disposed in the flow-through frame member to extend thereacross in
spaced parallel relation between the upstream ventilating air inlet and
the downstream ventilating air outlet, the blade members each having a
cross-section contoured to obscure direct passage of light therethrough
between upstream air inlet and downstream air outlet; means to retain the
blade members in disposed position within the flow-through frame member;
and, displacement means on the planar faces of the blade members to hold
the blade members in spaced relation to each other. In addition, the
present provides a unique blade configuration which enhances the overall
stability of the assembly. Further, the present invention provides an
assembly structure which allows for ready gravity drainage through the
frame and for efficient maintenance and cleaning.
It is to be understood that various changes can be made by one skilled in
the art in one or more of the several parts of the inventive structure
disclosed without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For
example, the blade members can be formed in different cross-sectional
configurations and the frame member itself can be of a different
geometrical configuration from that disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings which disclose one advantageous embodiment of the
inventive structure and a modification thereof:
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective, partially broken away view of a novel
ventilating and light restricting housing incorporating the several
features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view of the housing of FIG. 1, this view
serving to disclose the unique, straightforward drainage structure for the
assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a partially exploded vertical view of a portion of the novel
blade members which are utilized as part of the assembly of FIGS. 1-3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one of the blade members of FIG. 4
taken in a plane through line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and,
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the blade members similar to the
view of FIG. 5, illustrating another possible spacer arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings and particularly to the perspective
view of FIG. 1, a novel light restricting housing for a ventilating air
system 2 can be seen. Housing 2, which can be formed from any one of a
number of suitable materials, such as wood, metal or plastic, includes a
flow-through vertically extending frame member 3 which, in the embodiment
shown can be of rectangular shape formed from four side panel members
joined at the right angle corners by suitable right angle braces to define
an upstream ventilating air inlet 4 and a downstream ventilating air
outlet 6. Advantageously, in a typical poultry housing, the sides and top
panel can be formed from 3/8 inch thick wood strips of a suitable length
and a breadth of approximately 13 to 14 inches from ventilating air inlet
4 to ventilating air outlet 6. Suitable metallic right angle braces and
wood screws of any one of a number of known hardware types can be employed
to join the corners (not shown) or the corners also can be formed by
mitering or dovetailing and gluing.
In accordance with one feature of the present invention and as can be seen
in FIG. 3, the bottom panel which can be of an appropriately matching
length and thickness as the top panel spaced longitudinally extending
strips 7 which can be formed from a similar wood material of similar
thickness. The strips 7 are spaced from each other to be coextensively
parallel providing a gap opening 8 therebetween. This opening 8 in the
bottom of housing 2 serves as a ready gravity drainage opening for
contaminant flows. In the typical poultry housing aforedescribed, each
strip can be approximately 5 inches in breadth to leave a drainage gap of
approximately 3 to 4 inches therebetween when joined to the side panels in
a similar fashion, such as, by right angle metallic braces and wood
screws.
In order to retain the opposed ends of novel blade members, as, hereinafter
described, within housing 2, two spaced pairs of spaced parallel and
horizontally extending upstream and downstream rail members 11 are
provided. These blade members can be of wood and, in the typical poultry
housing aforedescribed, are of approximately 11/2 inches by 1/2 inches
square cross-section and sized to extend the length of the top and bottom
panels between the side panels of housing 2. These spaced rail pairs 11
serve to loosely receive and restrain the opposed longitudinal extremities
or ends of the vertically extending, spaced parallel blade members,
allowing sufficient tolerance for blade expansion caused by temperature
variations and allowing for blade movement during blade cleaning
operations.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, a plurality of the novel blade
members 9 can be seen in longitudinally extending, parallel relation for
vertical disposition in flow-through housing 2 with their opposed
longitudinal extremities loosely disposed for expansion and cleaning
purposes between the pairs of horizontally extending upstream and
downstream rail members 11 fastened to extend along the opposed upstream
and downstream edges of the top and bottom panels of frame 3. The blade
members 9 can be formed from any one of several materials and
advantageously are formed from an ABS plastic having a "hair cell" texture
on both sides and a preformed material thickness of 0.045 for poultry
house use, providing sufficient thickness to permit self support and to
allow for minor spreading for cleaning purposes. Forming can be
accomplished by several methods and it has been found desirable to utilize
a vacuum thermoforming method. Although it is possible to dispose the
blades in any one of a number of positions, as it can be seen in FIG. 4 of
the drawings, for poultry house usage it has been found desirable to
dispose the blade members 9 in a vertically extending parallel position
within frame 3 with the opposed ends thereof restrained by the pairs of
upper and lower panel rail members 11. As can be seen in FIG. 4 of the
drawings and as will be described more fully hereinafter, the blade
members 9 can be held at a spacing of approximately one inch by a series
of formed spacers or dimples 12. It is to be noted, that, with this novel
arrangement, no additional hardware is required to be used to accomplish
the blade member spacing.
As can be seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings, each blade member 9
advantageously can be formed to have an S-shaped, sinusoidal-like, curved
cross-section substantially throughout to allow stream-line flow of
ventilating air and to obscure direct passage of light therethrough
between the upstream ventilating air inlet 4 and the downstream
ventilating air outlet 6. Advantageously, each blade member 9 can be
formed to include integrally on the planar faces therewith a plurality of
spaced pairs of staggered longitudinally offset integrally formed spacers
or dimples 12 which pairs are arranged to extend from the opposite planar
surfaces thereof a distance of approximately one inch. Advantageously,
three pairs of such dimples or spacers can be provided for each blade
member with the pairs positioned near opposite extremities and centrally
of the blade members. The offset spacing of each of the pairs of dimples
12 on opposite surfaces of blade members 11 and the sinusoidal or S-shaped
cross-section allows successively adjacent blade members 9 to be
positioned in relatively inverted, parallel, longitudinally extending
relation to each other with the dimples 12 of one blade member 9, being
offset from the dimples 12 of an adjacent blade member 9, so as to enhance
manufacture and assembly of the light restricting housing 2 without
requiring any time-consuming fixturing of the blade assembly. Although the
blades shown include longitudinally offset spacers, it is to be understood
that other spacer arrangements could be used including spacers which are
laterally offset as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings where spacers 22 on
blade members 19 are so shown. Again referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings,
it is to be noted that, in accordance with another feature of the present
invention, each blade member 9 is configured in formation so as to include
a continuous peripheral surrounding edge 13 determined by a common plane
with the edge 13 at opposite blade extremities not only enhancing blade
stability and stiffness along with dimples or spacers 12 but also
improving blade drainage at the lower portion thereof through bottom gap 8
of frame 3.
Finally, it is to be understood that the present invention is not be
considered as limited to the particular blade cross-sectional and spacer
or dimple or raised surface pattern disclosed, but that other blade
cross-sectional contours and other raised surface patterns and means to
affix the spacers to planar blade surfaces to be a part thereof can be
employed.
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